Questions

18. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the total funding provided to TFI Local Link Laois Offaly in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of routes and passenger journeys supported in each year; the additional funding sought for 2027 to expand services and address unmet demand in County Laois; and whether a review of existing routes and service frequency is planned in consul…

19. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the funding allocated to the Rural Transport Programme and TFI Local Link for 2026; the proposed allocation for 2027; whether additional funding will be provided in Budget 2027 to expand rural public transport services in County Laois, particularly in areas where residents have limited access to public transport for employment, edu…

20. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will work with the Minister for Education and Youth and Bus Éireann, to identify opportunities to improve public transport provision for schoolchildren in rural communities in County Laois, particularly in areas where school bus routes are oversubscribed. [67461/26]

482. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with local authorities regarding the expansion of urban speed limit zones and the introduction of transitional speed zones on approach roads to towns where future housing development is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/26]

483. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to establish a national vehicle-transition scheme similar to the ICE2EV pilot scrappage scheme; if he plans to introduce a long-term, sustainable programme to support motorists in moving from internal-combustion vehicles to electric alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56755/26]

50. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the actions he intends to take to strengthen national road-safety governance; if he will review the current distribution of responsibilities across agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44584/26]

51. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will establish a funded national programme to redesign and remediate the 50 highest-risk road sections identified through collision data; if he will publish timelines for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44586/26]

52. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport his plans to expand the use of automated average-speed camera systems on high-risk national and regional routes; the expected timeline for deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44587/26]

53. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the establishment of a statutory road safety commissioner with defined legal authority, a dedicated budget and a clear mandate to oversee delivery of the State’s road-safety targets to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44588/26]

54. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with Transport for Ireland (TFI) regarding the provision of a safer and more accessible bus pick-up point for a person (details supplied) where the current designated stop requires travel along a busy road despite the bus passing directly by the individual's home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44589/26]

55. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a list of all capital projects to include road, public transport, active travel, energy and environmental infrastructure projects delivered under the remit of his Departments, and bodies under their aegis (including the NTA, TII, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann), which have been completed on time and within budget in County Laois in each of t…

56. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to outline plans by his Department to encourage the transition to electric vehicles, the timelines for the implementation of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/26]

412. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to consider the inclusion of Portlaoise Train Station in the Dublin commuter fare zone structure, either by extending Zone 4 or by creating a new Zone 5 for Portlaoise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/26]

70. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in implementing policies to reduce transport-related emissions, including measures to promote electric vehicles and sustainable mobility; and if he will outline any further initiatives planned in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31488/26]

71. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken to improve road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31489/26]

184. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has assessed the potential of hemp as a source of biodiesel production, including estimates of fuel yield per hectare and its potential contribution to national renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27545/26]

193. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport whether current regulations permit the use of hemp-derived biodiesel in private vehicles and generators; whether any regulatory or technical barriers exist, particularly in relation to newer diesel engines; if plans are in place to support wider adoption of locally produced biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27547/26]

33. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to carry out a review of the current Certificate of Professional Competence for HGV drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15256/26]

34. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting time for driving tests in County Laois, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15257/26]

35. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken to reduce current waiting times for those waiting for driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15258/26]

36. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting time for tests in NCT test centres nationwide, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/26]

37. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is preparing transport networks to maintain safety and reliability during extreme weather events, such as flooding or storms; the early-warning systems which are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15260/26]

38. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the recent measures introduced to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries; the way in which their effectiveness is being monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15261/26]

313. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the engagement to date between the local authority and his Department regarding a relief road (details supplied); the dates on which such engagements occurred; the officials involved; the outcomes or actions arising from those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/26]

277. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the timeline and budgetary measures being taken to improve the frequency, reliability and capacity of public bus services serving towns and villages in County Laois, in light of continued population growth and demand for sustainable transport options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3143/26]